In a natural disaster—a hurricane, flood, volcanic eruption, or other catastrophes—minutes and even seconds of warning can make the difference between life and death．Because of this, scientists are working to use the latest technological advances to predict when and where disasters will happen．They are also studying how best to analyze and communicate this information once it is obtained．
On September 29, 1998, Hurricane Georges made landfall in Biloxi, Mississippi, after damaging Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and several islands of the Caribbean badly with torrential rains and winds up to 160 km per hour．Few people lost their lives along the Gulf Coast of the United States, although hundreds died in the Caribbean．
This was a very different outcome from 1900, when a powerful Gulf Coast hurricane made an unexpected direct hit on Galveston, Texas, killing at least 6,000 people．
Vastly improved hurricane warnings explain the different circumstances at either end of the 20th century——residents of Galveston had no advance warning that a storm was approaching, while residents of Biloxi had been warned days in advance, allowing for extensive safety precautions（预防）．
At the same time that people in Biloxi were thankful for the advance warning, some residents of New Orleans, Louisiana were less satisfied．A day before Georges made landfall, forecasters were predicting that the hurricane had a good chance of striking New Orleans．Because much of New Orleans lies below sea level, the city is at risk for flooding．Emergency management officials must begin evacuations（疏散）well before a storm strikes．But evacuation costs money: businesses close, tourists leave, and citizens take precautionary measures．The mayor of New Orleans estimated that his city' s preparations for Georges cost more than 50 million．After Georges missed New Orleans, some residents questioned the value of the hurricane forecasts in the face of such high costs．
The different views on the early warnings for Hurricane Georges show some of the complexities related to predicting disasters．Disaster prediction is a process of providing scientific information to the government officials and other decision makers who must respond to those predictions．
【小题1】What is the purpose of disaster prediction according to the passage?

In a natural disaster—a hurricane, flood, volcanic eruption, or other catastrophes—minutes and even seconds of warning can make the difference between life and death．Because of this, scientists are working to use the latest technological advances to predict when and where disasters will happen．They are also studying how best to analyze and communicate this information once it is obtained．

On September 29, 1998, Hurricane Georges made landfall in Biloxi, Mississippi, after damaging Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and several islands of the Caribbean badly with torrential rains and winds up to 160 km per hour．Few people lost their lives along the Gulf Coast of the United States, although hundreds died in the Caribbean．

This was a very different outcome from 1900, when a powerful Gulf Coast hurricane made an unexpected direct hit on Galveston, Texas, killing at least 6,000 people．

Vastly improved hurricane warnings explain the different circumstances at either end of the 20th century——residents of Galveston had no advance warning that a storm was approaching, while residents of Biloxi had been warned days in advance, allowing for extensive safety precautions（预防）．

At the same time that people in Biloxi were thankful for the advance warning, some residents of New Orleans, Louisiana were less satisfied．A day before Georges made landfall, forecasters were predicting that the hurricane had a good chance of striking New Orleans．Because much of New Orleans lies below sea level, the city is at risk for flooding．Emergency management officials must begin evacuations（疏散）well before a storm strikes．But evacuation costs money: businesses close, tourists leave, and citizens take precautionary measures．The mayor of New Orleans estimated that his city' s preparations for Georges cost more than 50 million．After Georges missed New Orleans, some residents questioned the value of the hurricane forecasts in the face of such high costs．

The different views on the early warnings for Hurricane Georges show some of the complexities related to predicting disasters．Disaster prediction is a process of providing scientific information to the government officials and other decision makers who must respond to those predictions．

1.What is the purpose of disaster prediction according to the passage?

    A. To identify the cause of disasters．

    B. To save people' s lives and property．

    C. To prevent natural disasters from happening,

    D. To apply advanced technology to disaster prediction．

2.Which of the following areas suffered the most severe damage?

    A. Puerto Rico．                       B. New Orleans．

    C. Biloxi, Mississippi．               D. Galveston, Texas．

3.The city residents of New Orleans were unsatisfied because __   _ .

    A. the forecast hurricane did not hit the city

    B. the hurricane warning arrived rather late

    C. their preparations were made in vain

    D. they suffered from a heavy hurricane attack

4.What does the passage mainly talk about?

    A. The different ways of disaster prediction．

    B. Technological advances in disaster prediction．

    C. The importance and uncertainty of disaster prediction． 

    D. The benefits and preparations of disaster prediction．

In a natural disaster—a hurricane, flood, volcanic eruption, or other catastrophes—minutes and even seconds of warning can make the difference between life and death.Because of this, scientists are working to use the latest technological advances to predict when and where disasters will happen.They are also studying how best to analyze and communicate this information once it is obtained.
On September 29, 1998, Hurricane Georges made landfall in Biloxi, Mississippi, after damaging Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and several islands of the Caribbean badly with torrential rains and winds up to 160 km per hour.Few people lost their lives along the Gulf Coast of the United States, although hundreds died in the Caribbean.
This was a very different outcome from 1900, when a powerful Gulf Coast hurricane made an unexpected direct hit on Galveston, Texas, killing at least 6,000 people.
Vastly improved hurricane warnings explain the different circumstances at either end of the 20th century——residents of Galveston had no advance warning that a storm was approaching, while residents of Biloxi had been warned days in advance, allowing for extensive safety precautions（预防）.
At the same time that people in Biloxi were thankful for the advance warning, some residents of New Orleans, Louisiana were less satisfied.A day before Georges made landfall, forecasters were predicting that the hurricane had a good chance of striking New Orleans.Because much of New Orleans lies below sea level, the city is at risk for flooding.Emergency management officials must begin evacuations（疏散）well before a storm strikes.But evacuation costs money: businesses close, tourists leave, and citizens take precautionary measures.The mayor of New Orleans estimated that his city' s preparations for Georges cost more than 50 million.After Georges missed New Orleans, some residents questioned the value of the hurricane forecasts in the face of such high costs.
The different views on the early warnings for Hurricane Georges show some of the complexities related to predicting disasters.Disaster prediction is a process of providing scientific information to the government officials and other decision makers who must respond to those predictions.

1. 1.

   What is the purpose of disaster prediction according to the passage?

   1. A.
      To identify the cause of disasters.
   2. B.
      To save people' s lives and property.
   3. C.
      To prevent natural disasters from happening,
   4. D.
      To apply advanced technology to disaster prediction.
2. 2.

   Which of the following areas suffered the most severe damage?

   1. A.
      Puerto Rico.
   2. B.
      New Orleans.
   3. C.
      Biloxi, Mississippi.
   4. D.
      Galveston, Texas.
3. 3.

   The city residents of New Orleans were unsatisfied because __  _ .

   1. A.
      the forecast hurricane did not hit the city
   2. B.
      the hurricane warning arrived rather late
   3. C.
      their preparations were made in vain
   4. D.
      they suffered from a heavy hurricane attack
4. 4.

   What does the passage mainly talk about?

   1. A.
      The different ways of disaster prediction.
   2. B.
      Technological advances in disaster prediction.
   3. C.
      The importance and uncertainty of disaster prediction.
   4. D.
      The benefits and preparations of disaster prediction.

Scientists have uncovered the exact difference between man and mouse. Teams of scientists from around the world will publish today the draft(草图) genome(基因组) of the mouse, which enables them for the first time to compare another mammal’s entire DNA directly with that of a human.

The similarities are far greater than the difference－man and mouse share a comman ancestor that lived more than 70 million years ago－which has allowed scientists to find treatments for a good many human diseases.

British members of the project say the draft mouse genome, published in the journal Nature, has provided the “phrasebook” for scientists to translate the language of the human genome.

“The entire biomedical research community said for the first time fully using this resource to deal with human diseases. They will now have powerful tools that will serve them for many years to come,” said Dr. Jane Rogers, head of sequencing at the Welcome Trust Sanger Institute in Cambridge, which did 20 percent of the work.

Comparisons show almost every gene in the mouse has a corresponding(对应的) gene in humans－a 99 percent similarity that should help to find how each human gene works. Already the work has been able to show that man and mouse each have about 30,000 genes yet only 300 or so are unique to either species, increasing the value of the lab mouse as a “model” for human genetics.

This is an extraordinary milestone. For the first time we have an opportunity to see ourselves in an evolutionary(进化的) mirror. The mouse genome stands for a very important chapter in the lab notebook of evolution. By taking away genes to create sick mice, scientists have been able to reproduce a number disorders. Knowing the entire genomes of humans and mice will enable them to employ the technique more widely leading to a rapid development in the understanding of illnesses.

1．The importance of the discovery lies in the fact that __________.   

       A．man has finally found his true ancestor

       B．it will be easier for people to find the causes of human diseases and cure them

       C．it has enabled the scientists to compare human DNA with that of another mammal

       D．it makes it possible for man to understand the complicated language of his genome

2．The word “unique” in the fifth paragraph probably means ___________.

       A．having no like or equal                          B．the same

       C．corresponding                                     D．excellent

3．It can be inferred that _____________.

       A．almost every gene of a mouse works in the same way as that of a human being

       B．it has become easier for humans to find their real ancestor

       C．more mice will be used in scientific experiments

       D．scientists will use fewer mice in their experiments to protect them

4．Which of the following is the best title of the passage?

       A．Mouse “Book of Life” May Provide Cures for Human Diseases

       B．Mice and Men Are the Same

       C．Man and Mouse Share a Common Ancestor

       D．The Difference Between Man and Mouse